All aboard! The Maid of the Mist is about to depart — and you’re gonna want to jump on!

The Best Time to Visit Niagara Falls

Summer. The hotter the better. Being cold and wet is no fun. Embrace the July/August heat!

Into the mist they go!

What to See at Niagara Falls

If you’re spending just a few hours at Niagara Falls State Park (U.S.), I highly recommend:

Maid of the Mist ($18) and/or Cave of the Winds ($17)

Observation Tower and Crow’s Nest ($1)

walking paths around the top of the falls (free)

Maid of the Mist is the infamous boat ride around the bottom of the falls. Free poncho included. You will most definitely get wet (and it’s awesome). After the ride, hold on to your poncho, continue straight along the path and climb a series of stairs up into another mist zone, “Crow’s Nest,” next to the falls.

Cave of the Winds is a walking tour among the mist near the bottom of the falls. Free poncho and sandals included. You will also get wet here! (We didn’t actually do this activity, but it looked super fun, so if you have enough time and energy for a second soaking activity, give this a go!)

Cave of the Winds walking tour (bottom left); a Canadian boat passes in the background.

The Observation Tower gives you a panoramic view of all three Niagara Falls. Tower admission includes use of the elevator, which you can take down to the base of the gorge and climb the stairs to the Crow’s Nest mist zone. (Note: Elevator use is included with Maid of the Mist admission.)

Yep, I’m soaked. The wind on the deck of the Observation Tower will dry me off quickly!

Lastly, there are several walking paths to enjoy around the top of the American Falls, and we spent around an hour meandering around and taking photos. These paths will take you amongst various visitor buildings and viewpoints, and you’ll get a gorgeous view of the Canadian Falls at sunset!

Sunset view of Canada from the U.S.

Other activities I would have considered if we’d had more time:

driving Rainbow Bridge over to the Canadian side of the Falls (don’t forget your passport!)

What to Skip

The rest of the activities are more passive. Walking around indoors and reading, sitting and watching a film, etc. This includes:

Theater

Aquarium

Discovery Center

These all sounded boring to me, so on the gorgeous hot day we experienced at Niagara Falls, we skipped those things. But if you’re looking for quieter activities, it’s great to have the option! (Also good alternatives if the weather isn’t great or it’s too chilly to get wet.)

If you’re a “do-ALL-the-things” sort of person, you can purchase a Discovery Pass — good for the Theater, Aquarium, Discovery Center, Maid of the Mist and Cave of the Winds — for $45/$34 (adults/kids). More info here.

Another sunset view from Niagara Falls U.S. (partially under construction summer 2015)

Where to Park

There are four lots available for parking at Niagara Falls U.S., and you can find all the information you need, including current parking fees, on the parking page of the Niagara Falls State Park website. (It was $10/day when we visited in summer 2015.)

Where to Stay

The city of Niagara Falls is a little bit strange, and you won’t find much else to do here. We stayed about 30 minutes away in Buffalo, NY. (Tip: Check Hotwire for a good hotel deal in this area.)

Have you ever ridden the Maid of the Mist or walked through the Cave of the Winds? I’d love to hear if your experience was as awesome as ours was. Please share in the comments!

About the Author

Diana Southern

In March 2014, Diana called it quits on her traditional American working life and set out to explore the world with her partner in crime (and love of her life) Ian Norman. They now live a sustainable life of full time travel, working for themselves and seeking adventure at the same time. Here on North to South, Diana documents their journey in achieving and maintaining this "road less traveled" way of life.